Filler valve construction



May 12, 1959 P. A. SMITH 2,886,052

FILLER VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 6, 1956 86 IN V EN TOR.'

ea 7 mm 9 ATTORNEYS;

United States Patent FILLER VALVE CONSTRUCTION Peter A. Smith,Marshalltown, Iowa, assignor to Fisher Governor Company, Marshalltown,Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application February 6, 1956, Serial No.563,502

3 Claims. (Cl. 137-109) This invention relates generally to a fillervalve construction, and more particularly to such devices intended foruse in liquefied petroleum gas storage and dispensing systems.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over the structuredisclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 474,897, filedDecember 13, 1954, now Patent No. 2,813,401 granted November 19, 1957.In my said copending application, I disclosed a unitary filler valveconstruction for introducing a replenishing supply of liquid petroleumgas into the vapor space of a storage container having dip pipe meansfor emergency liquid removal. In the present case, I have againdisclosed a construction of this same general type, wherein theadditional improvement of an excess flow check feature is provided. a

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a control valvedevic'e serving to permit the introduction of a volatile fluid, and moreparticularly liquefied petroleum gas, into the vapor space of a closedstorage and dispensing container, wherein undesired discharge of fluidfrom the container during normal dispensing of gas therefrom iseffectively prevented.

It is another object of this invention to provide im-' proved liquidinlet control means for spraying or diffusing a volatile fluid into thevapor space of a closed container, while confining the expansion of suchfluid to the actual point of entry into the vapor space, therebyachieving a refrigeration effect to permit filling operations to becompleted entirely without the use of any vapor return systems.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a filler valveconstruction of the type described, wherein an excess flow check featureis embodied to prevent excess discharge of fluid from the containerduring withdrawal operations. i

It is still another object of this invention to provide a filler valveconstruction having a relatively great capacity with respect to theentry of incoming fluid into the container, and a relatively lowcapacity with respect to the withdrawal of fluid from the container,whereby careful regulation and control of the relatively small flow ofoutgoing fluid may be achieved while efiiciently performing the primaryfunction of introducing fluid into the container at a substantial rate.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

,Figure l of the drawing is a side elevational view, partly broken awayand in cross section, showing on a greatly reduced scale a liquidpetroleum container provided with a filler valve assembly constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the filler ICE.

I storage and dispensing container or tank of the'type commonly used bythe liquefied petroleum gas industry. The container 10 serves to encloseand confine a quantity of liquid petroleum gas 12 having a maximumliquid level 14. The liquid level 14 is spaced below the top wall 16 ofthe tank so as to define a vapor zone or space 18. In practice, thevapor zone 18 is normally a minor fraction of the total containervolume. In the case of the storage of propane gas, for example, thespace 18 which represents the vapor phase of the fluid within the tankis about 20 percent of the total container volume.

A filler valve assembly or unit, employing the features of the presentinvention, is indicated generally at 20. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3of the drawing, the assembly 20 includes a generally hollow open-endedmounting coupling 22, which is externally screw-threaded at 24 for fixedand gas-tight cooperation with a suitable aperturedefining fixture inthe top wall 16 of the container 10. Inthis way, the entire assembly 20may be removably mounted in a predetermined position.

An adapter coupling 26 of generally hollow openended form isscreW-threadedly received at 28 in cooperating gas-tight relation withinthe upper end of the coupling 22. A suitable gasket 29 is provided, andis disposed on an internal shoulder of the coupling 22. The coupling 26provides an internal shoulder at its upper end to receive a sealing ring30, and is internally screwthreaded at 32, for cooperation withremovablefittings of the well-known type which provide conduit meansfrom the filler valve assembly to a supply truck or the like. A suitableremovable closure cap 34 (see Figure 2) is provided in conventionalmanner.

' Adjacent the lower end of the coupling 26, an internal wall portionserves to define a downwardly-directed annular valve seat 36. Valveguiding and supporting means 38 are integrally formed within themounting coupling 22 and centrally positioned therein in the manner of aspider so as to provide flow passageways 40 therearound. A valve member42 isslidably carried in vertically reciprocable manner upon the upperend of the means 38. The valve member 42 carries a sealing disc 44 inremovably replaceable manner at its upper end for eooperativesealingengagement with the valve seat 36. Suitable clearance and apertures areprovided peripherally about the valve member 42 relative to the innerside wall of the coupling 22 so as to permit fluid flow therearound whenthe sealing disc 44 is spaced from the valve seat 36, as shown in Figure3 of the drawing. A bias spring 46 of conical form seats against thelower surface of the valve member 42 and against a suitable .internalshoulder 48 formed by the coupling 22. The

spring 46 serves to urge the valve member 42 in an upward direction intoseating engagement against the valve seat 36. Under normal fuel storageconditions, the valve member 42 effects a closure so as to preclude anyoutward flow.

' j of fluid upwardly through the coupling 26.

Such structures are conventional and well-known in theart. The presentinvention is primarily directed to those portions of structure which arecooperatively mounted Patented May 12,1959

in combination with thefiller valve structure to accomplish theobjectives of the invention. These improvements will now be described indetail.

The spray filling means and withdrawal-flow back-check feature ofthepresent invention are embodied in a unitary assembly having avertically elongated main housing 50 of generally hollow open-endedform. The housing 5'0 is suitably screw-threaded at its upper end 52 formounting cooperation with the lower end of the filler valve coupling 22.In this way, the spray filling means is mounted entirely within the tankand within the vapor space 18.

Closely adjacent the upper end of the main housing 50, a restrictedinner wall portion of generally downwardly tapered conical form servesto define a downwardly-facing valve seat 54. The lower end of the mainhousing 50 removably carries a dip-pipe coupling member 56, which issuitably threaded for attachment to the main housing 50 and forremovable attachment of a dip-pipe 58 (see Figure l). Thedip-pipe 58 isof the well-known type which extends vertically downwardly to a pointwell below the upper level 14 of the liquid 12 and closely adjacent thebottom of the tank. The upper end of the dip-pipe coupling 56 providesan inwardly extending annular shoulder portion which serves to define anupwardly-facing valve seat 60 within the housing 50.

A generally hollow valve cup member 62, having an open top and a closedbottom is mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement within the mainhousing 50. The valve cup 62 provides a relatively enlarged cylindricalside wall 64 at its upper end, and a relatively restricted cylindricalside wall 66 at its lower end. A bottom wall 68 provides a centrallyapertured boss 70, which extends upwardly within the valve cup 62 andterminates in an annular seating lip 71. The side wall portion 64 isdisposed closely adjacent a generally cylindrical inner side wallportion 72 of the housing 50. The substantial vertical height of thewall portion 64 enables the entire valve cup 62 to effect verticalsliding movement within the housing 59.

A plurality of spray ports 74 extend laterally through the side wallportion 72 of the housing 50 and are circumferentially spaced from eachother, as best seen in Figure 4 of the drawing. An internal shoulder 76is formed by the housing 50 at the upper end of the wall portion 72 andserves to provide an annular abutment or valve seat against which theannular upper end or lip of the valve cup 62 is adapted to seat. Such anupper position of engagement between the valve cup 62 and the shoulder76 is shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, and it -will be apparent that inthis position the side wall portion 64 of the valve cup serves tooverlie the laterally directed spray ports 74. When thus positioned, theupper lip of the valve cup 62 and the shoulder 76 operate in the mannerof a valve and valve seat.

The wall portion 66 of the valve cup 62 is provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced apertures 78. In this way, fluid flow may passthrough the interior of the valve cup 62 and through the wall portion 66into the annular space between the wall portion 66 and the adjacenthousing wall 72.

The boss 70 serves to provide guiding and supporting means for mountingan excess flow check valve member comprising a stem 80 having anenlarged poppet or valve head 82 at its upper end. A valve cup biasingspring 84 is positioned about the wall portion 66 in engagement with theupper end of the dip-pipe cup 56 and the annular wall surface of thevalve cup 62 formed intermediate the wall portions 64 and 66. The spring84 serves to urge the valve cup member 62 upwardly toward a position ofseating engagement against the valve seat 76, as shown in Figure 2.

A poppet valve biasing spring 86 is positioned about the portion of thepoppet valve stem 80 which extends downwardly below the valve cup member62. The upper end of the spring 86 seats against thelower surface of thecup bottom wall 68', and the lower end of the spring 86 seats against anadjustably positionable shoulder member 88. The lower end of the stem issuitably threaded for cooperation with the member 88 so that the biasingforce of the spring 86 may be suitably adjusted as desired. The spring86 normally serves to withdraw the valve poppet 82 into seatedengagement upon the annular seating lip 71, as shown in Figure 3 of thedrawing.

During filling operation, incoming liquid passes downwardly through theadapter coupling 26, and provides a sufficient force by virtue of itsincoming velocity and weight to move the valve member 42 downwardly awayfrom the valve seat 36 against the bias of the spring 46. With thefiller valve back-check 42 now in its open position, the incoming fluidcontinues to pass downwardly about the valve member 42 and through themounting coupling 22 and the apertures 40 into the restricted conicalupper end of the main housing 50 of the spray filling means. The liquidpasses downwardly through the valve seat 54 and engages the valve cupmember 62. Once again, the force and velocity of the incoming liquid issufiicient to depress the valve cup 62 against the bias of the spring 84from the position seen in Figure 2 to that seen in Figure 3 of thedrawing. The spray filling ports 74 are then exposed and the liquidpasses laterally outwardly therethrough for expansion and spraying intothe vapor space 18.

The bottom wall 68 of the valve cup member 62 is caused to seatinglyengage the valve seat 69 by the force of the inwardly flowing liquid,thereby preventing liquid flow downwardly through the dip-pipe coupler56 and the dip-pipe 58. All of the incoming liquid, therefore, isdirected outwardly through the spray ports 74 into the container 10.

During liquid Withdrawal operations, the filler valve back-check 42 ispositively moved to its open position by means of a suitable tool orstem introduced through the adapter coupling 26 in the well-knownmanner. The pressure within the tank 10 causes the fluid 12 to passupwardly through the dip-pipe 58, through the coupling 56 and valve seat60, through the apertures 78 and the valve cup member 62, around thepoppet 82, upwardly through the main housing 50 and mounting coupling22, and finally through the valve seat 36 and the adapter coupling 26.In the event that the discharge of the liquid upwardly through theassembly exceeds a predetermined limit, the pressure differentialcreated about the annular orifice defined by the poppet 82 and the sidewall 64 of the valve cup member will serve to cause the poppet 82 to belifted above the boss 70 against the bias of the spring 86. As theexcess flow check poppet 82 moves upwardly a sutficient distance, iteffects engagement against the valve seat 54, as indicated by dottedlines in Figure 2, and serves to close the fluid passage through themain housing 50. In this way, withdrawal flow is interrupted until suchtime as the pressure conditions which create the excess flow arereturned to a normal level.

It is a highly important feature of this invention, that the operationof the back-check poppet valve 82 is regulated by the pressure flowconditions through the relatively restricted annular passageway definedby the poppet 82 and the valve cup member side wall 64. As clearlyappears in the drawing, this annular passageway is of substantiallyrestricted cross-sectional area in comparison to the other flow passageareas through the assembly 20. The arrangement of parts is designed sothat the maximum restriction in the flow stream through the valveassembly will occur at this particular point surrounding the poppet 82.The maximum pressure differential in the flow stream through theassembly 20, therefore, is effective to actuate the excess flow checkvalve or poppet 82.

The particular form and configuration of the poppet 82 is ofconsiderable importance. As best seen in Figure 3 of the drawing, thepoppet 82 is fixedly positioned by its engagement upon the boss 70 whenthe valve cup member has been moved downwardly to its spray fillingposition. The upper end of the poppet 82 is conically tapered at 82a. Asseen by the flow direction arrows on Figure 3, this tapered form of thepoppet 82 serves to channel and direct the incoming flow toward andthrough the spray filling ports 74. The conical portion 820 of thepoppet is also desirable for the purpose of providing a relativelymodulated or progressive constriction of the fiow passage through thevalve seat 54 during flow closing movement of the poppet 82. Steppedcylindrical portions 82b and 820 of the poppet 82 below its conicalportion 82a serve to provide the annular restricted flow passageway,heretofore described in connection with the actuation of the poppetduring withdrawal flow. As seen in Figure 2, the portion 82c serves asthe valving element for sealing cooperation with the valve seat 54. Theconcurrent movement of the poppet 82 with the valve cup member 62, whenincoming fiuid is directed through the assembly, serves to eliminate thepoppet 82 as a direct obstruction to the liquid flow in a manner whichmight cause undue turbulence.

It will be understood by those familiar with the liquefied petroleum gasart that the features of the present invention may be adapted for use inmultiple valved head assemblies. In such constructions, it is oftencommon to provide a fluid passage communicating with the upper valvebody at a point below the upper back-check valve 42. Such a fluidpassage might be provided with a shut-off valve, in conventional manner,and could be utilized for the purpose of withdrawal of liquid from thecontainer for various applications in which vapor is not a satisfactoryfuel form. For safety purposes, it is mandatory that such a liquid flowoutlet be provided with an excess flow check feature.

If the present invention is adapted for use in a multiple valved headconstruction, a liquid withdrawal passage may be positioned intermediatethe upper back-check valve 42 and the lower back-check valve seat 54.The lower check valve or poppet 82 of the present invention wouldsatisfy the requirement of an excess flow check feature for such aliquid withdrawal outlet, thereby serving the dual function ofprotecting both emergency withdrawal flow through the filler valveconnection and dispensing withdrawal flow through the additional outlet.The necessity of installing a separate excess flow check valve in theadditional liquid outlet would be avoided. In this way, it is possibleto provide an excess flow check valve of suflicient sensitivity toprotect a liquid dispensing outlet connection in a multiple valved headwithout unnecessarily restricting normal inlet flow during fillingoperations.

Changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts ofmy filler valve construction without departing from the real spirit andpurpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by the claimsany modified forms of structure or use of mechanical improvements whichmay be reasonably included within their sco e.

\Efhat I claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters Patents of theUnited States is:

1. In a liquid petroleum gas dispensing installation of the typeincluding a tank and a filler valve mounted in the top wall thereof, thecombination with said filler valve of flow directing means comprising anopen-ended vertically-elongated body of hollow form having its upper endin flow communication with said filler valve and having its lower endadapted to communicate with a dip-pipe,

means forming a first valve seat intermediate the ends of said body andproviding an eduction passageway therethrough, said body being formedwith a laterally extending filling port above said valve seat, controlvalve means mounted within said body for movement between operativepositions to alternately close said eduction passageway and said fillingport, means forming a second valve seat intermediate said first valveseat and said filler valve, and an excess flow check valve carried bysaid control valve means for movement therewith, said excess flow checkvalve being reciprocably movable relative to said control valve meansfor cooperation Wllh said second valve seat, said excess fiow checkvalve being normally biased in spaced relation below said second valveseat.

2. In a liquid petroleum gas dispensing installation of the typeincluding a tank and a filler valve mounted in the top wall thereof, thecombination with said filler valve of flow directing means comprising anopen-ended vertically-elongated body of hollow form having its upper endin flow communication with said filler valve and having its lower endadapted to communicate with a dip-pipe, means forming a first generallyhorizontal valve seat intermediate the ends of said body and providingan eduction passageway therethrough, said body being formed with alaterally extending filling port above said valve seat, control valvemeans mounted within said body for movement between operative positionsto alternately close said eduction passageway and said filling port,means forming a second generally horizontal valve seat intermediate saidfirst valve seat and said filler valve, and an excess flow check valvecarried by said control valve means for movement therewith, said excessflow check valve being reciprocably movable relative to said controlvalve means for cooperation with said second valve seat, said excessflow check valve being normally biased in spaced relation below saidsecond valve seat.

3. In a liquid petroleum gas dispensing installation of the typeincluding a tank and a filler valve mounted in the top wall thereof, thecombination with said filler valve of flow directing means comprising anopen-ended vertically-elongated body of hollow form having its upper endin flow communication with said filler valve and having its lower endadapted to communicate with a dippipe, means forming a first valve seatintermediate the end of said body and providing an eduction passagewaytherethrough, said body being formed with a laterally extending fillingport above said first valve seat, control valve means mounted withinsaid body for movement between operative positions to alternately closesaid eduction passageway and said filling port, means normally biasingsaid control valve means to a position spaced entirely above said firstvalve seat and fully overlying said filling port to close said port andopen said eduction passageway, said control valve being spaced belowsaid filling port to open it when said control valve means is moveddownwardly against said biasing means to a position of seated engagementupon said first valve seat to close said eduction passageway, meansforming a second valve seat above said filling port, and an excess flowcheck valve reciprocably mounted within said body and supported entirelybelow said second valve seat for cooperation therewith, said excess fiowcheck valve being normally downwardly biased in open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

